ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Squirrels in base housing are an ongoing challenge for residents.
Squirrels chew through sidings and roof overhangs to get into the houses, said John V. Noble, 316th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management supervisor.
Residents who feed the squirrels create problems for the entire base community.
"Squirrels have babies in the attics and keep people awake and chew wiring," said Mr. Noble. "The damage caused by chewed siding, roof overhangs and wiring creates safety issues along with being unsightly."
"In some extreme cases, residents must be moved due to damage caused to wiring," said Mr. Noble.
"Entomology will trap squirrels once notified of problems," he said. "We set live traps outside along homes or trees in the area where squirrels are feeding. Once trapped, we try to relocate the animals to a location away from housing or commercial government buildings. On rare occasions they may be euthanized and disposed of through the appropriate humane society facility.
"After contacting the entomology shop, occupants should then notify backlog maintenance and repair office to make necessary repairs to the home," said Mr. Noble.
Traps set by the entomology shop should not be moved by residents.
"Sometimes people will remove our traps and discard them thinking they are helping the animals, but in reality they are escalating the problem," said Mr. Noble. "Squirrels in base housing have hardly any natural predators except the fox. If left to breed unchecked, they will continue to become more of a problem."
Squirrels also have the potential of carrying diseases.
"Like any mammal, squirrels can be living hosts to a number of insects such as ticks, fleas and mosquitoes," he said. "Diseases that are common to these insects such as lime disease and West Nile virus can be transmitted to the host and so on."
Base housing residents are encouraged to report problems with squirrels to the 316 CES entomology shop at 301-981-5548.